All systems go for one of the biggest sporting events in the region next month!

Department of Education – Baguio City, during a technical conference last Thursday, assured sports managers and coordinators across the region that playing venues, billeting schools, as well as amenities are all set for the 2017 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet on February 4 to 8.

               OIC Schools Division Superintendent Agustin P. Laban III hopes that they can deliver a better hosting of the regional sports event this year as long as all stakeholders and those involved will work hand-in-hand in providing what is due the participants.

               “We are working closely with the Office of the City Mayor and the City Sports Office and this conference or meeting today is yet again an opportunity to also coordinate well with the different participating provinces,” said Laban.

               The billeting schools have already started their preparations for the arrival of athletes in the afternoon of February 1 and for a simultaneous welcome of participants on February 3 added the superintendent.

               The Baguio City delegation, officiating officials, and the CARAA management will be housed in Baguio City High School, Abra delegation will be billeted at the Baguio SPED Center, Apayao will stay at San Vicente NHS and Elementary School, delegates from Benguet will be at Lucban Elementary School, Ifugao delegates will be at Mabini Elementary School, Mt. Province in Baguio Central School, and the tag team of Kalinga Province and Tabuk City will be billeted in Quezon Elementary School.

               Baguio City Sports Coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales, on the other hand, confirmed that most of the sporting events will be played in the Athletic Bowl like archery, athletics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, and including boxing.

               Rubber mats will be in place at the Baguio Convention Center for wrestling and taekwondo. Arnis and table tennis will be at the University of Baguio (UB)Gym and wushu will be at Woodsgate, Camp 7.

               According to DepEd division chief Elma D. Donaal, the request for the use of other venues especially in the universities and private sports centers were favorably granted. Badminton games will be held at the Cooyeesan Sports Complex, billiard will be at the Puyat Sports Complex-Baguio Center Mall and basketball elementary at the YMCA.

               Saint Louis University (SLU) will host the basketball secondary while the University of the Cordilleras (UC) will handle some games for volleyball secondary. Other games for volleyball secondary and elementary will be held Engineer’s Hill and DPS compound covered court. Special games and chess will be at the Baguio City High School.

               “Our request for the use of the Benguet Sports Center, Wangal, La Trinidad for both baseball elementary and secondary was also granted by Governor Crescencio Pacalso,” said Donaal.

               Meanwhile, a three-day accreditation of officiating officials kicked-off last Friday and will end today. The training-seminar aims to update DepEd officiating officials with new rules and policies of the different sport events to be played up to the Palarong Pambansa. In this year’s CARAA, all the events are considered regular sports and will be included in the overall medal tally. However, in the Palarong Pambansa set on April 10 to 16 in the Province of Antique, sepak takraw girls and walkathon will remain as demo sports. – Georaloy I. Palao-ay